Causes Quote by Eric Hoffer
“Man is eminently a storyteller. His search for a purpose, a cause, an ideal, a mission and the like is largely a search for a plot and a pattern in the development of his life story - a story that is basically without meaning or pattern.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The True Believer, Eric Hoffer, 1951
Humans construct narratives to give life purpose, but these stories often lack inherent meaning or consistent pattern.
In simple terms: People create life stories that may be meaningless.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the constructed nature of personal purpose.
Themes
storytelling
purpose
meaning
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- career planning
- personal development
- creative writing
- psychotherapy
Key Concepts
existentialism
narrative theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How much of your purpose is a self‑made story?
- Can meaning be found without a plot?
A Different Perspective
Stories can be arbitrary and still guide behavior.
![“Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from ear to ear. So I don’t want to mess up, [be]cause she’s smiling. Seeing my mom happy is kind of like an overwhelming feeling.” quote by Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/477/chris-brown-1887_causes_well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-w_4699.jpg)